Photographs and images of Ireland,Irish Stock photography by Peter McCabe,

July – 09

It is early, 3.57 to be precise. The morning air feels slightly salty as I set up a composition at the waters edge. In the distance lies Inishbofin and with the sun yet to rise over Meenlaragh I make my way hurriedly into the composition I have just setup as the timer counts down from 10.

Life does not get any better than this. I am back in North West Donegal a place I love to photograph.

Unlike other unnamed locations in Ireland it is a location that remains largely true to itself. Gaudy plastic leprechauns & inflatable shamrocks are replaced with wild landscapes, rugged coastlines and golden beaches all of which are a photographers dream. It is a location where I feel at home.

With the impromptu self-portrait in the bag, and the sun still rising I make my way across the dunes to Ballyness Bay. Here, three long since abandoned fishing boats sit weather beaten and broken. Their appearance in a strange kind of way captures the essence of this location. I have photographed these boats on a number of ocassions and each time I have been unhappy with the results.

Getting the big picture that sells would be easy to do. However I also wanted to capture some images that tell the story of these boats. Where they left behind perhaps by people gone in search of new beginings? Before they disappear for ever I wanted to capture some images that depicted their decay.

To do this I set about creating a set of images that depicted their decline. Images that showed the peeling paint and tangled nets wrapped around gaping holes. With a 70-200 lens I set about picking out details on the wooden hulls. Using the strong colours of red and green to create images that would appeal to the viewers eye.

The images you see above are the result. The ruined trawlers on the shores of Ballyness bay.